Apparatus for the production of nitrogen compounds from metal carbids



V.THRANE. I APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF NITROGEN COMPOUNDS FROM METAL CARBI-DS' APPLICATION FILED JAN- 9. l9l8.

1,364,157c Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

Ifiventnr: Victor Thrgne.

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Attn I'Il my VICTOR THRANE, 0F CHRISTIANIA. NORWAY.

APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF NITRGG-EN COMPOUNDS FRDM METAL CARBIDS.

I Specification of Letters Patent.

original application filed November 10, 1916, Serial No.'130,632. Divided and this application filed January 9, 1918. Serial No. 211,068. I

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, VICTOR THRANE, citizen of Norway, residing at Christiania, Norway, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for the Production of Nitrogen Compounds from Metal Carbids, (forming a divisional part of my U. S. Patent Appl. No. 130,632 which has matured into Patent No. 1,273,690, dated July 23rd, 1918), of which the following is a specification.

v In the production of compounds from metal carbids and nitrogen the preheated carbid mass is moved or transported within a furnace in a direction opposite to the incoming current of nitrogen, and by regulation of the temperature and velocity of the nitrogen gas the reaction is readily controlled. I

The carbid is placed upon a layer of an inert substance, so that the nitrogen compound is produced upon this layer .and may be easily removed with a larger or less portion of the same.

The furnace or apparatus is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a vertical section,

Fig. 2 is a plan View.

Like characters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a furnace provided with an annular compartment '2 therein, in which the endless curvilinear base plate or table --3- is rotatably mounted.

This table rests upon rollers 4. and is provided intermediate of its breadth with a curvilinear rack 5 adapted to mesh with the gear 6 which is rotated through any suitable train of gearing driven from a prime mover 7- or other suitable source of power.

Operatively mounted on the furnace 1+ are a pair of hoppers 8 and 9- whichdischarge directly into the annular compartment -2 and are provided respectively with feed rollers '-10- and 11 located in the dischar e outlets, the said rollers being operatively riven through a suitable train of gearing from the prime mover or source of power 7-.

The inert material is filled into the hopper 1 8- and is fed by the rolls 10- and discharged upon the moving table -3, which it willvbe understood travels in the direction indicated by the arrow -l2, and in this way a layer of material is deposited upon the table.

The metal carbids are fed into the hopper 9 which is arranged alongside the hopper 8, the said carbiols passing through between the feed rollers 11 and being deposited upon the layer of inert material which is already lying upon the table -3.

As the table -'3 is traveling in a clockwise direction and carrying the metal carbids delivered thereto a current of nitrogen is introduced into the annular compartment 2- through the opening -13 in the lateral wall of the furnace -1. The said current of nitrogen traveling in a direction opposite to that of the rotation of the table 3 acts upon the preheated metal carbids and produces the desired nitrogen compounds.

When the desired nitrogen. compounds, produced during the passage of the metal carbids through the annular compartment 2 and under the influence of the current of nitrogen, arrive at'the opening -13-, the stationary or mechanically operated knife 17 which is located at a level corresponding to the bottom of the nitrogen Patented Jan. a, tear.

compounds (at the top of the layer of inert 8 shown, and the knife '17 being arranged at the inner edge of the bottom wall of the passage 13 will loosen the nitrogen compounds from the inert material. As the table 3 moves, the loosened material will be forced by the material behind it along the bottom wall of the passage 13150 the exit of said passage. v

It will thusbe seen that the operation /of this furnace is continuous and the compounds produced thereby are obtained by a single operation. p

The several parts of the furnace together with removable parts may be insulated or protected against the strong heat so that deterioration of the saidparts is not liable to take place.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of my inven tion, within the scope of the claim constructed without departing from the spirit or scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification and drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 7 1. A furnace suitable for nitrifying carbids, said furnace comprising a compartment, a table movable in the said compartment, means for actuating the table, means for delivering a layer of inert material to the table, means for deliveringthe carbid material to be acted upon on the said layer, of inert material and'means for delivering a current of nitrogen to the compartment in a direction counter to that in which the table moves.

2. A furnace suitable for nitrifying carbids, said furnace comprising a compart-' ment a table movable 'in the said compartment, means for delivering a layer of inert material to the table, means fordelivering.

onto the said layer a layer-of carbid material to be nitrified, means for delivering a current of nitrogemto the compartment and means for separating the nitrogen compound formed on the table and for .dis-

table, and a separating and dischargingmeans including a knife located in proximity to the 'said outlet opening, capable of separating the nitrified carbids, and of discharging the same, as and for the purpose specified. i e

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' VICTOR THRANE. Witnesses:

GUNNAR N RDER, THORE ROSENDAHI). 

